Wig base with adjusting mechanism in trifurcate shape

ABSTRACT

In a wig base comprising an occipital base A, a parietal base B, a side base C and a nape portion base D, one end of a first adjusting belt  10  which can expand and contract is fixed to the side base C, one end of a second adjusting belt  20  which can expand and contract is fixed to the parietal base B, and one end of a third adjusting belt  30  which can expand and contract is fixed to the nape portion base D respectively. Other ends of first to third adjusting belts are coupled at one position in a trifurcate shape, thereby forming an adjusting mechanism. The wig base having this configuration can be adjusted finely so as to make the wig base fit a wearer&#39;s head with using a pull from three directions by the three adjusting belts.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a wig base which covers a whole portionof a user's head. More specifically, it relates to a wig base which canimprove mountability to a user's head by having an adjusting mechanismin a trifurcate shape. The wig base according to the present inventionis suitable for making a whole head wig mounted on a user's head inwhich a part or all of own hairs are lost due to a congenital reason oran acquired reason such as disease treatment, and a dimension of thehead is changed due to increase or decrease of the volume of hairs onthe head during the disease treatment.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

A ready-made or custom made base for a whole head wig generally has ahat-like shape with a peripheral portion according to the shape of auser's head so far. Such wig base is generally made of cloth in which asynthetic fiber is woven into a mesh. For making the wig base, a wholehead portion is divided into several portions and such several portionsare connected together, thereby forming the wig base.

As a wig considering wearability, for example in a Patent Document 1, itis disclosed that a metallic or resinous ear stiffener is inserted intoa side protector of a wig base to prevent the side protector from beinglifted up in order to correspond to a shape or a size of a user's head.

In the Patent Document 1, in order to prevent the wig base from beinglifted up, a rigid member such as a metallic wire rod and a resinmember, or a steel member is inserted into a portion of the wig basealong a shape around the ear and then hardened by a resin material,thereby preventing the portion along the shape around the ear from beingextended or deformed.

In a wig described in a Patent Document 2, a plurality of fine wire rodsare arranged sideways and formed into a curved shape, thereby forming abone, and the bone is placed at a position to contact and press aportion corresponding to the hollow at a nape portion in order toprevent the nape portion from being lifted up and improve a fit feeling.

In a wig described in a Patent Document 3, a part of a side portion, apart of a side protector connected to a front side of the side portionor a center portion of a nape portion of a wig base is formed by aflexible net such as a polyurethane net, thereby preventing the lift upor slide up.

In a wig described in a Patent Document 4, a wig base is formed in ahat-like shape so as to fit a shape of a user's head, and an adjuster isprovided at a nape portion of the wig base to adjust a length of theadjuster, thereby making the wig base fit a shape of a user's head.

In a Patent Document 5, there is disclosed a wig which can prevent anape portion or a side portion from being lifted up or sliding up,thereby obtaining a comfortable wearability.

PRIOR ARTS Patent Document

-   -   Patent document 1: JU S57(1982)-143218A    -   Patent document 2: JP 2001-81618A    -   Patent document 3: JP 2007-321298A    -   Patent document 4: JP 2007-239153A    -   Patent document 5: JP 2008-63696A

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Problem to be Solved

As stated above, relating to a wig base, various ideas had been proposedto fit a shape of a user's head, thereby enhancing wearability. Apurpose of the present invention is to provide a wig base which canachieve a finer adjustment than a conventional wig base, therebyobtaining a high fit feeling.

Means for Solving Problem and Effect of Invention

In the wig base according to the present invention, one end of a firstadjusting belt which can expand and contract, one end of a secondadjusting belt which can expand and contract and one end of a thirdadjusting belt which can expand and contract are fixed to arbitrarythree positions on an inner surface of the wig base respectively. Otherends of the first to third adjusting belts are coupled at one positionin a trifurcate shape.

The wig base having the above mentioned configuration can be adjustedfinely so as to make the wig base fit a wearer's head with using a pullfrom three directions by the three adjusting belts, thereby obtaining ahigh fit feeling to the head.

In the wig base according to the present invention, as the abovementioned three positions, it is preferable to select “two positionslocated at an interval along a circumferential direction of a wearer'shead” and “remaining one position located at an inner location of thewig base”. In this case, both “an adjustment in a circumferentialdirection of the head” and “an adjustment in a front-back direction ofthe head” can be achieved.

In the wig base according to the present invention, at least one of thefirst to third adjusting belts is preferably configured such that areference length thereof to which no external force is applied can beadjusted (for example, using a buckle or the like).

If such configuration is applied, size adjustment in a large scale canalso be possible in comparison with the case of fine adjustment simplywith using an adjustment belt which can expand and contract.

According to the present invention, a wig in which a fine adjustmentthereof is achieved can be provided by planting artificial or naturalhairs to the above mentioned wig base.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a drawing for describing a basic configuration of a wig baseaccording to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates an inner surface side (back surface side) of the wigbase of FIG. 1, and also illustrates an adjusting mechanism coupled in atrifurcate shape.

FIG. 3 is a detailed drawing for illustrating an enlarged view of aportion around a ring member of the adjusting mechanism of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a drawing for describing an embodiment to engage a firstadjusting belt and a third adjusting belt with a flexible band.

FIG. 5 is a drawing for describing an embodiment to cover the adjustingmechanism with a covering member.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT

Embodiments of the present invention are explained below, with referenceto the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a drawing for describing a basicconfiguration of a wig base according to one embodiment of the presentinvention. FIG. 1 (a) illustrates a wig base 1 seen from the side andFIG. 1(b) illustrates the wig base 1 seen obliquely from the rearrespectively.

<<Basic Configuration of Wig Base>>

The wig base 1 includes four portions as described below, and the wigbase 1 is formed by stitching these portions together:

(a) an occipital base A which covers the occipital region of a wearer'shead,(b) a parietal base B connected to the occipital base A, which covers anarea from the parietal region to the sinciput region of the wearer'shead(c) a side base C connected to the occipital base A and the parietalbase B, which covers the temporal region of the wearer's head (it isnoted that if the side base C is connected at least to the parietal baseB, the side base C is not necessarily stitched with the occipital baseA), and(d) a nape portion base D connected to the occipital base A, whichcovers a wearer's neckline.

A side base C which is similar to the above mentioned embodiment is alsoprovided at a side located opposite to the side as shown in FIG. 1(a).

Each of the bases A to D can be formed by a net member, a resin materialand another suitable material, which are generally used for a wig base.While it is not illustrated in the drawing, a wig product can beprovided by planting artificial or natural hairs to the wig base 1.

<<Configuration of Adjusting Mechanism>>

An adjusting mechanism with a trifurcate construction is placed to thewig base 1 as shown in FIG. 1 (refer to FIG. 2). In FIG. 2, the wig baseof FIG. 1 is shown inside out. Thus, a surface of the wig baseillustrated in FIG. 2 is a surface of the side which contacts a wearer'shead (thus, inner surface side).

The adjusting mechanism is formed by three of first to the thirdadjusting belts which can expand and contract elastically, a ring member40 which makes these adjusting belts coupled together in a trifurcateshape. FIG. 3 illustrates an enlarged view of a portion around the ringmember 40 of FIG. 2 in detail.

One end of the first adjusting belt 10 is fixed to the side base C andanother end of the first adjusting belt 10 has a loop portion 11 intowhich the ring member 40 is inserted.

One end of the second adjusting belt 20 is fixed to the parietal base Band another end of the second adjusting belt 20 has a loop portion 21into which the ring member 40 is inserted.

One end of the third adjusting belt 30 is fixed to the nape portion baseD and another end of the third adjusting belt 30 has a loop portion 31into which the ring member 40 is inserted.

In the illustrated embodiment, the first to third adjusting belts areconfigured to have the loop portions 11, 21, 31 by folding back andstitching the other ends of the adjusting belts respectively. Then thering member 40 is inserted into each of the loop portions, therebyforming the connecting portion in a trifurcate shape.

If the other ends of the three adjusting belts 10, 20, 30 are connectedat one position in a trifurcate shape, any arbitrary way can be appliedfor specific embodiments. For example, three of the other ends can bestitched together at one position in a trifurcate shape.

Since three of the adjusting belts which can expand and contract areconnected at one position in a trifurcate shape, the wig base can beadjusted finely so as to make the wig base fit a user's head with usinga pull from three directions. Specifically, an adjustment in acircumferential direction of the head can be achieved by pulling witheach other between the first adjusting belt 10 and the third adjustingbelt 30. Additionally, an adjustment in a front-back direction of thehead can also be achieved by applying a pulling up force by the secondadjusting belt 20.

If the adjustment in a circumferential direction of the head isperformed, it can give a delicate effect to the front-back direction viathe second adjusting belt 20. At the same time, if the adjustment in afront-back direction is performed, it can give a delicate effect to thecircumferential direction via the first and third adjusting belts 10,30. Accordingly, extremely fine adjustment to the wig base can beachieved by applying “the three adjusting belts which can expand andcontract” and “the connection at one place in a trifurcate shape”,thereby realizing a very high fit feeling.

Especially, as an embodiment of “connection at one place in a trifurcateshape”, if the loop portions 11, 21, 31 are provided at the end of eachadjusting belt and the ring member 40 is inserted into the loop portions11, 21, 31, the following advantage is obtained. Specifically, each ofthe adjusting belts 10, 20, 30 and the ring member 40 are coupledtogether such that each of the adjusting belts 10, 20, 30 can slidefreely along the circumferential direction of the ring member 40.

Therefore, when a length of the adjusting belt is adjusted with using aknown mechanism such as a buckle, or a position of the wig base to thehead is adjusted, the adjusting belts can flexibly move relative to thering. Accordingly, a stress applied to the wig base 1 can effectively bereleased, (thus, a strain of the wig base can be released), andconsequently a comfortable wearability can be achieved at a high level.

A specific embodiment that the loop portions 11, 21, 31 are formed atthe end of the adjusting belts is not limited to the illustratedembodiment, and any arbitrary configuration can be applied. As a shapeof the ring member 40, while a circular shape is preferable, anapproximately triangle shape or others can also be applied.

<<Embodiment to Adjust Length of Adjusting Belt>>

The first to third adjusting belts 10, 20, 30 are formed by flexiblemembers and can expand and contract. Further, a total length of thesecond adjusting belt can be adjusted by providing a buckle 25 (thus, areference length to which no external force is applied can be adjusted).

By applying such configuration, size adjustment in a large scale can beachieved in comparison with the case of adjustment only with using anadjusting belt which can expand and contract.

As far as a reference length to which no external force is applied canbe adjusted, an embodiment is not limited to the illustrated one. Whileonly the second adjusting belt 20 has the buckle 25 and a total lengththereof can be adjusted in the illustrated embodiment, a similarconfiguration can be applied to the other adjusting belts accordingly.

<<Embodiment to Change Location of Adjusting Belt>>

As an enlarged view is shown in FIG. 2, a belt member 60 which extendsalong a circumferential direction of the head is stitched with the napeportion base D. The belt member 60 is stitched and connected with thenape portion base D at a plurality of locations at a certain interval.Thus, a plurality of inserting portions 65 (belt end connectingportions) are formed between a plurality of seams 61 in FIG. 2.

On the contrary, a hooking member 35 (connecting portion) for insertingand fixing is connected at the end of the third adjusting belt 30.Accordingly, a relative position of the third adjusting belt 30 to thewig base can be changed by changing the inserting portions 65 into whichthe hooking member 35 is inserted. Therefore, a size of the wig basealong a circumferential direction of the head can be changed. Thus, asize adjustment can be achieved in a large scale in comparison with thecase of adjustment only with using an adjusting belt which can expandand contract.

It is not limited to the illustrated embodiment, and as far as theposition where the end of the third adjusting belt 30 is connected tothe nape portion base D can be changed by providing some kind ofconnecting portion at the end of the third adjusting belt 30 and aplurality of corresponding connecting portions at the nape portion baseD, any other configuration can be applied, and a similar effect can beobtained.

While in the illustrated embodiments, the configuration to achieve theposition change is applied only to the third adjusting belt 30 asmentioned above, it is not limited thereto, and a similar configurationcan be applied to the other adjusting belts.

<<Embodiment to Suppress Displacement of First and Third AdjustingBelts>>

Referring to FIG. 4, relating to the first adjusting belt 10 and thethird adjusting belt 30, an embodiment to suppress an upwarddisplacement thereof is described. This is a measure to prevent thefirst adjusting belt 10 and the third adjusting belt 30 from beingexcessively displaced in the upward direction according to a tensileforce in the upward direction by the second adjusting belt 20, therebyenhancing wearability.

FIG. 4 (a) illustrates an outline of this embodiment, and FIG. 4(b)illustrates a partial exploded view for describing the constructionthereof.

At first, a belt member 70 is connected (for example, stitched) along aperiphery of the occipital base A. The first adjusting belt 10 and thethird adjusting belt 30 are placed along the belt member 70, and thebelt member 70 and the first adjusting belt 10 are coupled by placing aband 75 a (flexible member) which can expand and contract around thebelt member 70 and the first adjusting belt 10, and fixing both ends ofthe band 75 a. Similarly, the belt member 70 and the third adjustingbelt 30 are coupled by placing a band 75 b which can expand and contractaround the belt member 70 and the third adjusting belt 30, and fixingboth ends of the band 75 b. Thus, the first adjusting belt 10 and thethird adjusting belt 30 are engaged with the occipital base A via theband member 70.

The bands 75 a, 75 b have flexibility. Therefore, when the firstadjusting belt 10 and the third adjusting belt 30 are pulled upwardly bythe second adjusting belt 20, the belts 10, 30 can be displaced upwardlyat some level, but they are prevented from being excessively displacedupwardly (refer to FIG. 4c ). A degree of such effect can be setaccording to a material or configuration of the flexible bands 75 a, 75b.

When a size of the wig base 1 is adjusted by making a length of thesecond adjusting belt 20 shorter, the first adjusting belt 10 and thethird adjusting belt 30 are displaced upwardly. If the first adjustingbelt 10 and the third adjusting belt 30 are excessively displacedupwardly, a pressure is applied to the wearer's head, thereby loweringwearability. However, it can be prevented by using the bands 75 a, 75 b.

While the bands 75 a, 75 b are applied to both the first adjusting belt10 and the third adjusting belt 30 in the illustrated embodiment, theband can be applied to either of them. It is not limited to theillustrated embodiment, and if the first adjusting belt 10 or the thirdadjusting belt 30 can be engaged with the occipital base A with usingsome flexible member, a similar effect will be obtained.

<<Embodiment to Enhance Gripping Force with Anti-Slip Coating>>

While it is not illustrated, in the present invention, an anti-slipcoating can be applied to inner surfaces (thus, surfaces which contact awearer's scalp) of the adjusting belts 10 to 30. The coating areprovided for preventing slippage relative to the wearer's scalp, and thecoating can be applied to all of the adjusting belts 10 to 30, and alsoto a part of the adjusting belts 10 to 30.

As a material for the coating, while silicone, urethane, latex or thelike is generally used, it is not limited thereto as far as it has aneffect to prevent slippage.

<<Embodiment to Cover Adjusting Mechanism Having Trifurcate Shape withCovering Member>>

As shown in FIG. 5, an adjusting mechanism having a trifurcate shape canbe covered with covering members 81, 82. The covering members 81, 82 areprovided for lowering uncomfortable feeling due to the contact of thewearer's scalp with the ring member 40 or the like.

The covering member 81 covers all of the ring member 40 and the first tothird adjusting belts 10, 20, 30 in FIG. 5 (a). The covering member 82covers only a portion around the ring member 40 in FIG. 5 (b). An areacovered with the covering member is not limited to the illustrated one,and it can be arbitrarily determined.

<<Others>>

In the illustrated embodiments, three of the adjusting belts which formsthe adjusting mechanism having a trifurcate shape are fixed to theparietal base B, the side base C and the nape portion base D. However,since an essential feature of the present invention is to achieve a fineadjustment of the wig base with using a pull from three directions bythree adjusting belts, such three adjusting belts can be fixed to anyarbitrary three positions on the inner surface of the wig base, inaddition to the illustrated embodiments.

As for a basic configuration of the wig base, any arbitraryconfiguration can be adopted in addition to the illustrated embodimentsin which the wig base is divided into four bases A, B, C, D.

In the illustrated embodiment, since the first adjusting belt 10 and thethird adjusting belt 30 are placed along circumferential direction ofthe head, and the second adjusting belt 20 is extended upwardly ascrossing the first and third adjusting belts 10, 30, “an adjustment in acircumferential direction of the head” and “an adjustment in afront-back direction of the head” can be achieved.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

-   A Occipital base-   B Parietal base-   C Side base-   D Nape portion base-   1 Wig base-   10 First adjusting belt-   11 Loop portion-   20 Second adjusting belt-   21 Loop portion-   25 Buckle-   30 Third adjusting belt-   31 Loop portion-   35 Hooking member-   40 Ring member-   60 Belt member-   61 Seam-   65 Inserting portion-   70 Belt member-   75 a,b Flexible band-   81,82 Covering member

1. A wig base, wherein: one end of a first adjusting belt which canexpand and contract, one end of a second adjusting belt which can expandand contract and one end of a third adjusting belt which can expand andcontract are fixed to arbitrary three positions on an inner surface ofthe wig base respectively, and other ends of the first to thirdadjusting belts are coupled at one position in a trifurcate shape. 2.The wig base according to claim 1, wherein: said three positionsincludes two positions located at an interval along a circumferentialdirection of a wearer's head, and remaining one position located at aninner location of the wig base.
 3. The wig base according to claim 2,comprising: an occipital base which covers the occipital region of awearer's head, a parietal base connected to the occipital base, whichcovers an area from the parietal region to the sinciput region of thewearer's head, a side base connected to the parietal base, which coversthe temporal region of the wearer's head, a nape portion base connectedto the occipital base, which covers a neckline of the wearer, wherein:said one end of the first adjusting belt is fixed to the side base, saidone end of the second adjusting belt is fixed to the parietal base, andsaid one end of the third adjusting belt is fixed to the nape portionbase respectively.
 4. The wig base according to claim 1, wherein: atleast one of the first to third adjusting belts is configured such thata reference length thereof to which no external force is applied can beadjusted.
 5. The wig base according to claim 1, wherein: loop portionsare formed at said other ends of the first to thirds adjusting beltrespectively, and said other ends are coupled at one position in thetrifurcate shape by inserting a ring member into the loop portions. 6.The wig base according to claim 3, wherein: in said nape portion base, aplurality of belt end connecting portions are provided along acircumferential direction of the wig base, and said one end of the thirdadjusting belt is position-changeably fixed to the nape portion base bycoupling a connecting portion provided at said one end of the thirdadjusting belt to any one of the belt end connecting portions.
 7. Thewig base according to claim 3, wherein: at least one of said first andthird adjusting belts is engaged with the occipital base by flexiblemember.
 8. The wig base according to claim 1, wherein: an anti-slipcoating is applied to an inner surface of at least one of said first tothird adjusting belts.
 9. The wig base according to claim 1, furthercomprising a covering member which covers at least a part of said firstto third adjusting belts and a ring member.
 10. A wig, which is formedby planting artificial hairs on the wig base according to claim 1.